Dr Matshidiso Moeti

Dr Matshidiso Moeti from Botswana the first woman WHO Regional Director for Africa has over the past 4 years, led the transformation of WHO Regional office for Africa into an accountable and results driven organisation. Over this period WHO AFR has focused on improving health security, universal health coverage and supporting countries in the implementation of SDG-3. Strong partnerships has been developed with various bilateral and multilateral health development partners.

Dr Moeti is a public health veteran, with more than 35 years of national and international experience. She joined WHO’s Africa Regional Office in 1999 and has served as Deputy Regional Director, Assistant Regional Director, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO Representative for Malawi, Coordinator of the Inter-Country Support Team for the South and East African countries and Regional Advisor for HIV/AIDs.

She is renowned for having led WHO’s “3 by 5” Initiative in the African Region at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, resulting in a significant increase in access to antiretroviral drugs by HIV-infected persons.

Prior to joining WHO, she worked with UNAIDS as a Team Leader of the Africa and Middle East Desk in Geneva (1997-1999); with UNICEF as a Regional Health Advisor for East and Southern Africa; and with Botswana’s Ministry of Health as a Clinician and Public Health Specialist.

Dr Moeti holds a degree in medicine (M.B., B.S) and Master’s degree in public health (MSc in Community Health for Developing Countries) from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, respectively.

She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Health & Allied Sciences, Ghana.